The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg

You have to wonder just what kind of dirt was done to Robert Preston or maybe to Mark Twain in real life as Samuel Langhorne Clemens for him to set up such a joke as a test of human nature on the good citizens of Hadleyburg. Twain's thesis is that if one is never really tempted it's real easy to be virtuous and to be smug about it.

Preston sends 19 letters to different prominent citizens of Hadleyburg saying that their kindness to him plus a gift of $20.00 at a time he needed it with some advice turned his life around and in gratitude he was bestowing a sack containing $40,000.00 on some lucky citizen. Of course no one knows about the others and letters come to the Reverend Fred Gwynne as per instruction where he will open the bag and see if that piece of wisdom is written inside a note with the money.

Of course the lure of $40,000.00 in turn of the last century monetary value is too much, that would be maybe $200,000.00 today. Temptation brings out the worst in people, no need to go into details.

Nicely produced work of a beloved Mark Twain classic.

yes, it's true...my college professor forced me to watch this horrendous film. i thought that with the endorcement of henry fonda this film might have some worth, but no. it is a shallow, poorly acted, bore of mark twain's short story. I hated it. I'm sure you will hate it as well.

I found the other comments far too negative. The film is--like Mr. Twain--humorous and makes a good point to those who think they are above corruption. It also makes the point that it is wise to do people a kindness whenever possible for you never know when you will need kindness yourself. The film was obviously not made on a big budget and at times drags a bit--not a great film but a good one and well worth seeing. Robert Preston is fun to watch and Fred Gwynne, for those who only know him from CAR 54 WHERE ARE YOU and THE Munsters, is surprisingly gentle as the minister who was put out of his church and who must judge who gets the gold.

I enjoyed this short film, largely because of the twist. It is based on a "long premise", that such a town full of virtue might exist anywhere in the U.S., but that virtue is easily compromised by greed.

Like Twain's story it is an attack to the central core of our belief that we are above the rest, that we might be on a higher moral ground than the rest of the world.

I first saw this movie while I was in high school, and I found the story to be entertaining, the acting suitable, with Robert Preston playing his role with his usual charm and good humor.

I would consider this a good production of a Twain classic.